What is a certification degree?

A certification degree is a professional certification. A certification is actually different from a degree. A degree is earned by attending an educational institution, such as a college or university, while a certification is earned by applying to a professional association.

Degrees from colleges come in these forms:

• Associate's degree

• Bachelor's degree

• Master's degree

• Doctoral degree

However, a professional certification is a certificate gained by a professional that demonstrates knowledge, skills, and experience in a specific job or program. Professional certifications can be earned in many different industries, and fields, or in different kinds of computer software or other tools.

Professional certifications help job candidates stand out in their field by demonstrating expertise in a specific area. Employers often look to see if a candidate has a certification relevant to the role they are seeking with them.

Professional certifications are offered by professional associations. A professional association is composed of a group of professionals in a particular field or industry that are entrusted with maintaining control and/or oversight of the legitimate and optimal practice of that particular occupation. They also often operate in a way to safeguard public interest.

Professional associations often offer professional certifications for individuals in a specific field. A professional certification demonstrates expertise and skills in a particular area or industry that the professional association is affiliated with.

Here are some examples of professional certifications:

• Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)

This certification is helpful for those in project management who want to display a good understanding of how to manage business objectives. If you want to specialize your project management career path in business analysis, this is a great certification to obtain.

You must have at least 60 hours of business experience and 35 contact hours of coursework in business analysis.

• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)

This certifies you have foundational knowledge in the area of project management. This is good for those just starting off on the project manager career path. It also helps to grow your knowledge and expertise in this field. You do not need professional experience to attempt to gain this certification.

• Certified Management Accountant (CMA)

This certification is offered by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), and demonstrates expertise in forecasting, cost management, decision analysis, and internal control auditing.

Candidates must have at least a bachelor's degree and two consecutive years of experience in financial management, or management accounting. This exam has two levels that normally take eight hours to complete.